With the most casinos in the world, the U.S. is the top destination for the travelling gambler. The types of gambling in the U.S include: casinos, horseracing tracks, greyhound tracks, and sports betting parlours.
Gambling winnings by non-U.S. residents are subject to a 30% withholding tax by the IRS. Unfortunately, dealing with the IRS can be complicated, time consuming, and confusing.
When it comes to ease of reclaiming a portion or all of your withheld winnings, no one is more successful than Refund Management Services (RMS). In fact, we’ve never been refused an eligible refund.
Best Cities for Gaming in the U.S.
While you can find places to gamble almost anywhere in the U.S., some destinations are more popular than others. Below is a list of five of the top gambling cities in the U.S. A couple might even surprise you.
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is synonymous with gambling no matter where you live. It’s widely considered the best gambling city in the U.S., and most would say it’s the best city for gambling in the world.
With over 375 gaming facilities, Las Vegas is king when it comes to gaming. It attracts visitors from all over the world, including the top poker players who come for the high-limit tables.
On top of that, the Las Vegas Strip is home to 15 of the 25 largest hotels in the world. Some of the biggest casinos on the Strip include the Venetian/Palazzo, Wynn Las Vegas, Mandalay Bay, the Bellagio, MGM Grand, and Aria.
Reno, Nevada
It’s not as flashy or as big as Las Vegas, but Reno offers some of the best gambling in the country. In fact, Reno was the destination of choice for gamblers before Las Vegas took over the crown in the 1950s and 1960s.
Just 14 kilometers east of the California border, Reno continues to be a popular travel destination for those in San Francisco and those willing to make the trip north of Las Vegas. Reno might be called the Biggest Little City in the World, but it has everything that Las Vegas does, including gambling, luxury hotels, spa, shopping, and golfing.
Reno has over 20 casinos, including Harrah’s Reno, The Eldorado Hotel and Casino, Peppermill Hotel and Casino, Silver Legacy Hotel and Casino, Grand Sierra Resort and Casino, Atlantis Casino Resort Spa, and Nugget Casino Resort.
Atlantic City, New Jersey
Atlantic City is often called America’s Favourite Playground and for good reason. It’s the second-largest gambling city in the U.S. and the top gambling destination for those on the East Coast.
While four of Atlantic City’s casinos had to shut their doors because of the U.S. economic slowdown, the city is experiencing a bit of a renaissance, and its eight casinos continue to be a huge draw for non-U.S. residents.
Whether you’re visiting Atlantic City to walk the Boardwalk or see the birthplace of Monopoly, you’ll want to check out Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, Caesars Atlantic City Hotel & Casino, Tropicana Casino & Resort, Golden Nugget, and Resorts Casino Hotel.
Biloxi, Mississippi
It’s been 25 years since gambling officially came to Mississippi. Over that short period of time, Biloxi has emerged as one of the top gambling destinations in the U.S. Outside of Las Vegas, Biloxi is home to the biggest cluster of casinos.
The first casinos in Mississippi were riverboats. But, after Hurricane Katrina in 2009, new casinos were allowed to move 800 feet inland. Today, there are more than 12 casinos in and around Biloxi.
In 2015, the Silver Slipper and Scarlet Pearl Casino and Hotel opened their doors while the Island View Casino and IP Casino Resort Spa both completed massive multi-million dollar renovations. Other top casinos in Biloxi include the Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, Hard Rock Hotel, Golden Nugget, Boomtown Casino, and Palace Casino Resort.
Palm Springs, California
Palm Springs is located in the Sonoran Desert in Southern California, and aside from celebrities, it is known for its hot springs, golf courses, and spas. It is also an up-and-comer when it comes to gambling.
There are seven casinos in the Palm Springs area, which offer everything you’d expect a world-class gaming city to offer: slot machines, table games, and casino gambling. Some of the biggest hotel casinos in the area include Morongo, The Spa Resort, Agua Caliente, Fantasy Springs, Spotlight 29, Augustine, and Red Earth.
U.S. Gambling Winnings Subject to 30% Withholding Tax
It doesn’t matter if you gamble in Palm Springs, Ft. Lauderdale, Chicago, Las Vegas, or anywhere else in the U.S., if you’re a non-U.S. resident and you win a substantial amount of money (typically over $1,200), the IRS will withhold 30% from you. That’s because gaming winnings are considered income and need to be taxed.
For example, if you win $1,500 on the slots, the casino will only pay out $1,050. But, if you live in a country like Canada, which has signed a U.S. tax treaty, you may be eligible for a refund.
There are a number of countries that currently do not have a U.S. tax treaty. However, if you reside in any of the following countries, you could still be eligible for a refund: Australia, Bahrain, Barbados, Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Israel, Kuwait, Mexico, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, and the U.A.E.
To see if you meet the criteria and are eligible to get some or all of your withholding tax back, contact RMS.
RMS, the Easiest Way to Get Your Withheld Gaming Tax Back
If you’ve had 30% of your winnings withheld by the IRS, RMS can help you reclaim a portion or all of your taxable winnings. Founded by a Canadian Chartered Accountant in 1998, RMS has become the most reliable and experienced gaming and casino tax refund provider for non-U.S. residents.
Only RMS has the One Simple StepTM process. Our Customer Service Agents take care of the rest: processing and submitting it to the IRS. It can take a minimum of one year for the IRS to review the claim and for RMS to receive the refund. Best of all, we’ve never been refused an eligible refund.
Contact RMS today by calling our toll-free number at 1-888-272-5559 or by emailing us at [email protected].